Number Lines Teaching Resources
Download printable number lines, activities and worksheets to help students as they develop their understanding of counting, operations, fractions and more elementary math skills. Save time on your math lesson planning with printables that are ready to be downloaded and used in the classroom!
This teaching resource collection was created by the teachers on the Teach Starter team and includes number lines for positive and negative integers, time number lines and classroom number lines that can be printed and displayed on the classroom wall or your students' desks for a variety of math activities. Build students' number sense, expand their understanding of fractions and more with this powerful collection that includes curriculum-aligned so you can meet Common Core and state standards.
New to using this tool in the math classroom, or just looking for some fresh ideas for teaching with number lines? Explore a primer from the teachers on the Teach Starter team!
What Is a Number Line?
A number line is a visual representation of numbers that is usually represented as a straight line. The numbers are usually represented as points on the line, and the distance between each number corresponds to the difference in value between them.
In an elementary school setting, you can use a number line to introduce basic mathematical concepts and to help students develop their number sense. They can be used for a wide variety of different activities such as counting, comparing numbers, teaching decimals and plenty more.
How Do Number Lines Help Students?
This tool has a number of applications in helping build numbers skills, some of which may surprise you! Take a look at the ways these can help your elementary students:
- They aid learning by providing a visual representation of numbers and their relative positions.
- They make it easier for students to understand concepts such as addition, subtraction and fractions, as well as to visualize and compare numbers.
- They can be used to introduce negative numbers and to understand the concept of absolute value.
- A number line can help students develop their number sense (aka the ability to understand and work with numbers in a flexible and efficient way).
How Do You Put Fractions in a Number Line?
Number lines come in handy when you're teaching fractions in elementary school — both by helping kids visualize the relationship between fractions and whole numbers and by allowing them to see the relative sizes of fractions.
One of the most common stumbling blocks for students is putting fractions in a number line. Here's how to do this, step by step:
- Determine the range of the number line. For example, if a student wants to put fractions between 0 and 1 on the number line, they'll need to draw a line segment from 0 to 1.
- Divide the line segment into equal parts. The number of equal parts will depend on how many fractions your student wants to include on the line. If the plan is to include 4 fractions, for example, they would divide the line segment into 4 equal parts.
- Label the endpoints of the line segment with the whole numbers that correspond to them. For example, they could label the left endpoint as 0 and the right endpoint as 1.
- Label the other points on the line segment with the fractions you want to include. To do this, students need to determine the location of each fraction on the number line. They can do this by finding a common denominator for all of the fractions and then dividing the line segment into that many equal parts.
- Plot each fraction on the number line by marking the appropriate point and labeling it with the corresponding fraction. You can also have your students shade in the region of the number line that corresponds to the set of fractions they are interested in.
Students may also need to partition a number line into equal parts as part of their study of fractions! To do this, instruct your students to put the 0 and 1 tick marks at the ends of the line, look at how many equal parts are needed, and draw one fewer tick mark.
For example, if a student is dividing a line into eighths, they draw the 0 and 1 markers and draw seven ticks (this will ultimately give them eight equal spaces).
5 Creative Ways to Use Number Lines in Your Math Classes
Looking for fresh ways to use number lines? Explore our collection for printable activities and ideas, and explore this list of favorites from our teacher team!
- Create a Scavenger Hunt — Have your students go on a hunt for specific numbers on the number line scavenger hunt style. They can also be given a range of numbers to find and write down the numbers that fall within that range.
- Use the Number Line for a Drawing Activity — Incorporate the number line into a drawing activity. For example, kids can draw an ocean that shows the depth below sea level or integrate a number line into a drawing that has a thermometer to show positive and negative temperatures.
- Number Line Sidewalk Art — Here's another fun art activity you can do with this handy tool. Students can draw horizontal and vertical number lines with sidewalk chalk and then physically move between numbers, showing how to represent addition, subtraction, rounding and more. This is a great way to incorporate movement into the school day too.
- Number Lines with Clothespins — Students can sequence clothespins marked with integers, fractions or decimals. This helps with fine motor concepts for younger students, while older students can be challenged to match equivalent value clothespins on their number line. (Such as equivalent fractions, decimals and percentages)
- Number Line Riddles — Bring some serious fun to your number line activities. Give your students a riddle they can solve with the use of a number line!
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Printable Number Line 0–30
Make counting a visual experience with this set of 4 multi-purpose 0–30 printable number lines.
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Fractions on a Number Line - Halves, Fifths, and Tenths
Demonstrate the concept of fractions on a number line with a printable fraction number line display and student reference sheets.
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Number Heroes - Number Line to 100 Interactive Activity
Help the Number Line Heroes defeat the Number Thief and fill in the missing numbers on the number line with an interactive activity.
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Blank Number Lines - Printable
Print a set of open number lines to help you teach a variety of math skills.
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Printable Blank Number Line - 0-120
Create personal number lines for use in math lessons with a printable blank number line template for numbers from 1-120.
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Goal Getters- Rounding to the Nearest Ten Worksheets
Score a goal and master rounding numbers on a number line with a soccer-themed rounding to the nearest ten worksheet.
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Understanding Positive & Negative Numbers – Worksheet
Explore positive and negative numbers by plotting integers on a number line and identifying opposites with this worksheet.
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Rounding on Number Lines - Interactive Mystery Picture
Karate chop those rounding standards with a fun Rounding on a Number Line Mystery Reveal activity.
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Worksheets - Rounding Using a Vertical Number Line
Use a vertical number line to round whole numbers to the tens, hundreds, and thousands place with a pack of differentiated rounding worksheets.
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Rounding to the Nearest Ten, Hundred, and Thousand - Worksheet
Review rounding concepts with a worksheet covering rounding to the nearest ten, hundred, and thousand.
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Decimals on Number Lines - Codebreaker Worksheets
Crack the number line code with worksheets practicing identification, addition, and subtraction of decimal numbers.
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Fractions on a Number Line Worksheets
Represent fractions greater than zero and less than or equal to one with a pack of fraction number line worksheets.
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Printable Skip Counting Worksheets and Charts
Practice and review skip counting by 2,3,4,5,and 10 with a pack of printable skip counting worksheets and anchor charts.
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Whole Numbers on a Number Line Worksheet
Practice finding the missing number on number lines.
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Fractions on a Number Line Game
Practicing fractions doesn't have to be boring. Our Fractions on a Number Line Game will have your students engaged in no time!
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Rounding Numbers on a Number Line Teaching Slides
Teach students how to round to the nearest ten and hundred with an interactive, explicit instructional teaching presentation.
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Match That Fraction! – Number Line Activity
Match fractions with their corresponding locations on a number line with a set of fraction task cards.
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Decimals on Number Lines - Math Game
Review how to identify and place decimals on a number line with a set of printable math games.
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Fractions on a Number Line - Instructional Deck
Teach your students how to identify and work with fractions on a number line with an interactive, explicit instructional teaching presentation.
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Rounding Worksheets - Cut and Paste
Provide your students with engaging practice to help them understand rounding with a set of differentiated worksheets.
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Four Digit Numbers on a Number Line - Task Cards
Determine the intervals and identify the missing four-digit whole numbers on a number line with this set of 24 task cards.
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Vertical Number Line - Rounding Worksheets
Use a vertical number line to round whole numbers to the nearest ten, hundred, thousand, and ten thousand with a set of rounding worksheets.
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Lost in Decimal Woods - Decimal Number Line Interactive
Recognize and analyze decimals on a number line with an exciting self-checking interactive game.
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Subtraction on a Number Line – Worksheets
Practice subtracting two-digit numbers with regrouping using a number line and the jump strategy with a pack of differentiated worksheets.
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Ordering Decimals Worksheet - Number Lines
Practice ordering decimals on a number line with this worksheet.
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Fractions on a Number Line – Worksheet
Improve student understanding of fractions on a number line with this printable 3rd-grade math worksheet.
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Add and Subtract Integers on a Number Line - Interactive Picture Reveal
Practice solving addition and subtraction equations with positive and negative numbers using an interactive mystery picture reveal.
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Positive and Negative Number Line - Worksheet
Practice locating integers on a positive and negative number line with a printable integer worksheet.
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The Number Line Zoo - Cut and Paste Worksheet
Develop number sense by returning the zoo animals to their correct positions on the number line with a fun worksheet.
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Fractions on a Number Line - Halves, Quarters, and Eighths
Demonstrate the concept of fractions on a number line with a printable number line display and student reference sheets.
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Number Line to 100 - Including Multiples
Help your students as they learn their multiples with this 0-100 number line.
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Fractions Number Line - Thirds, Sixths, and Twelfths
Demonstrate the concept of thirds, sixths, and twelfths on a number line with a printable number line display and student reference sheets.